Dancing with the feet is one thing, but dancing from the heart is another.

Movement is a part of everyday life! We use it to travel from one place to another, we practice it through athletic recreation, and we can refine it through the art of dance. The AVHS Dance Department honors the philosophy that everyone is born a mover. We work with students who have already had some training at a local studio and those who have never taken a dance class before. In fact, some of our students with no previous experience have gone on to study dance on scholarship at various colleges! Evidently, our department sparks inspiration, creativity, individual voice, and confidence in a lot of our youth.

Our core curriculum focuses on Ballet, Hip-hop, Jazz, Improvisation, and Modern techniques, but our students also have opportunities throughout the year to explore African, Breakdancing, Musical Theater, Salsa, Steppin, Swing, and other social and world dances. We are fortunate to be able to bring in guest artists from the metro area to share their talents with our dancers and introduce them to these many different aspects and styles of dance. In addition to technique, there is also a one-of-a-kind class we offer titled Choreography and Media. In this class, students work on student choreography and self-expression through the means of video editing, graphic design, music editing, and performance viewing.

At Apple Valley High School, we take great pride in the music education our students receive. In addition to our 3 concert bands, students can perform in several ensembles: jazz ensemble, athletic band, percussion ensemble, flute ensemble, clarinet ensemble, pit orchestra and R&B Band. All band students receive individual lessons during the school day from an AVHS instrumental music teacher.

Instrumental Music at Apple Valley High School is a year-long course offering. All incoming 9th grade instrumentalists register for Concert Band. Auditions are held in the spring of each year for placement into the Wind Ensemble or Symphonic Band for the following year. Members of the Apple Valley High School Band program participate in and perform for a wide variety of concerts and events throughout the school year.

Visit the AVHS Band website.

The visual arts program provides a journey of artistic discovery for creative self-expression and personal fulfillment and for developing right brain functions considered essential for tomorrow s leaders, inventors, thinkers, and artists. The program also provides important preparation for future success in an information society that emphasizes visual imagery for communication. Study in the visual arts begins with three trimesters of exploratory art experiences in Introduction to Art, Two Dimensional Art and Three Dimensional Art. The Introductory Art courses are the foundation art courses that meet the needs of both the new art student and the student interested in in-depth study. The Survey Art courses offer interest exploration in a broad range of media, contributing to student creativity, perceptual awareness, non-verbal communication skills, and cultural appreciation. These introductory classes are followed by 10 one-trimester courses of in-depth study in Graphic Design, Ceramics, Digital Art and Animation, Drawing, Creative Dimensions, Jewelry, Painting, Photography, Printmaking, and Sculpture.

Vocal Music at Apple Valley High School is a place of proud traditions, high expecations, and honored results. Vocal Music classes are year-long course offerings. 9^th grade students register for either Choraliers (Soprano/Alto) or Troubadours (Tenor/Bass). Choir offerings continue for older students with Ragazze Cantanti (Soprano/Alto) and Ragazzo Cantanti (Tenor/Bass), and the mixed Valley Select Chorale by audition for 11^th and 12^th grade students. There are also several year-long co-curricular chamber ensembles for students who wish to audition and extend their vocal music experience beyond the school day.